Thirst for blood pushed her to excel
Over 5,000 Ngee Ann Polytechnic students will be graduating next month. TNP speaks to some of them
"Can you give me your blood?"
Miss Julia Tan, 19, has asked over 20 people that question, and not because she has a weird fetish.
It was research for her final-year project at Ngee Ann Polytechnic, where she was studying for her Diploma in Biomedical Science.
She drew around 25 tubes of blood of 3ml each over three months.
Miss Tan said: "I've always been fascinated with the heart when I was doing my secondary school biology.
"Then, I realised that blood was more important, to me at least."
Her mentor for her Youth Expedition Project trip to Laos, Mr Gabriel Tan, agreed.
Mr Tan, who is in his 30s, said: "She's very passionate. She will talk about how blood tells you a lot about a person, and she even topped her haematology modules. All these added up to show her passion."
Miss Tan, who is certified to draw blood, said: "Initially, it was difficult to convince people to let me draw their blood. But when they saw that I was competent, they allowed me to do so."
HEALTHCARE
"Some people have joked that I'm so gory and disgusting," she added.
Miss Tan's passion for blood had pushed her to excel - she topped all three of her haematology modules and will be graduating with a grade point average of 3.97.
She said: "I'm interested (in blood) so it made me study more than what was taught, helping me to understand better."
Miss Tan, who plans to go to medical school, said: "I hope to play a part in the healthcare industry."
"Initially, it was difficult to convince people to let me draw their blood. But when they saw that I was competent, they allowed me to do so."
- Miss Julia Tan, who drew 25 tubes of blood for her final-year project
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